MNT Upended by Nicklas Bendtner Hat Trick in 3-2 Loss to Denmark

Jozy Altidore and Aron Johannsson Notch Second and First Goals of 2015, Respectively; USA Next Plays Switzerland on March 31 in Zurich on FOX Sports 1 and UniMás

MNTMar 25, 2015

AARHUS, Denmark (March 25, 2015) – Jozy Altidore tallied his 27th goal for the U.S. Men’s National Team and added an assist on Aron Johannsson’s third career tally, but it was not enough to offset Nicklas Bendtner’s hat trick in a 3-2 loss to Denmark on Wednesday at NRGi Park.

The USA now returns to Zurich, where it will continue training camp ahead of next week’s match against Switzerland. The U.S. MNT will play its second consecutive road match in Europe on March 31 at 12 p.m. ET live on Fox Sports 1, UniMás and UDN.

The USA twice took the lead in each half first through Altidore and then Johannsson. Denmark responded on each occasion through Bendtner, who eventually scored the game winner in the 91st minute.

The USA had a chance to equalize in the game’s final moments when midfielder Michael Bradley whipped a beautiful cross into the box, but John Brooks guided his header just wide in the last action of the match.

Goal Scoring Rundown:
USA – Jozy Altidore (Timmy Chandler), 19th minute: Timmy Chandler played a one-two passing combination with Altidore, launching the ball to the far post from the right side. Altidore outmuscled his defender and blasted in a half-volley at the near post with his left foot. It was Chandler’s first assist for the USA. USA 1, DEN 0 (SEE GOAL)

DEN – Nicklas Bendtner (Lasse Vibe), 33rd minute: After a long build up, the ball ended up with Denmark’s Daniel Wass. He flashed a cross toward Rimando, where it was backheeled by Lass Vibe into the path of Bendtner, who easily tapped it home from close range. USA 1, DEN 1 (SEE GOAL)

USA – Aron Johannsson (Jozy Altidore), 66th minute: Michael Bradley dropped an exquisite long ball into the Denmark box to a streaking Altidore. The U.S. striker took a beautiful first touch to cushion the pass and draw the attention of Denmark goalkeeper Stephan Andersen before, poking the ball to Johannsson, who tapped home into the vacated goal well with smart first touch and a defender on his back. USA 2, DEN 1 (SEE GOAL)

DEN – Nicklas Bendtner, 83rd minute: A chip from Martin Braithwaite on the left side was deflected and looped toward the far post of the U.S. goal. Denmark’s Lasse Schöne and the USA’s Timmy Chandler challenged for the deflected ball, which ultimately fell to Bendtner, who lashed a first-time volley low past screened U.S. goalkeeper Nick Rimando. USA 2 DEN 2 (SEE GOAL)

DEN – Nicklas Bendtner (Christian Eriksen), 90+1 minute: A Nick Rimando goal kick was allowed to bounce around the midfield stripe and Denmark won the second ball, moving it to Eriksen wide in the left channel. The Denmark captain directed a long ball over the top to Bendtner, who cradled the pass with a fluid first touch before smacking a low shot past Rimando into the far side netting from 16 yards out. USA 2, DEN 3 (SEE GOAL) FINAL

Key Saves and Defensive Stops:
USA – Nick Rimando (Save) 16th minute: Denmark curled in a cross from the left channel to the far post which just skipped by striker Nicklas Bendtner, before Rimando turned it around the post with a diving save.

USA – Nick Rimando & Michael Orozco (Save), 48th minute: A defensive mix-up led to an opening for Denmark’s Christian Eriksen, who snapped a wide open shot from the right side, which Rimando expertly beat away. However, the ball continued to roll toward the U.S. goal before Michael Orozco was able to clear it to safety.

Milestone Watch:

Timmy Chandler scored his first career point for the U.S. MNT with his assist in the first half.

Jozy Altidore’s first-half goal was the 27th of his career and his second this year. He is three goals behind Brian McBride for fourth on the USA’s all-time scoring list.

Ventura Alvarado earned his first cap for the U.S. MNT, entering in the 80th minute to replace Michael Orozco.

Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley, making his first start as captain for the USA, were the only two players to feature for the MNT during the last time it faced Denmark in this stadium in 2009.

Nick Rimando made his first appearance and start in Europe for the USA.

Greg Garza has now started four of the last six matches for which he was available.

The two at the top of the USA’s 4-4-2 were Altidore and Johannsson, who were previously teammates at AZ Alkmaar. Altidore assisted on Johannsson’s goal in the 68th minute.

Before the match, the Denmark crowd gave Aron Johannsson, who had played at NRGi park before as a member of the Danish club AGF Aarhus, a warm reception when his name was called. It was his first start since 2013, and his first appearance since entering for Jozy Altidore in the 2-1 win against Ghana in the USA’s opening match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.